Widow’s bay: a creepy comedy with a dark secret?
Matthew Rhys stars in ‘Widow’s Bay,’ a darkly funny horror series that’s unsettlingly charming – and potentially cursed.
Island isolation and mayor’s misguided ambitions
The premise is deceptively simple: Matthew Rhys plays Tom Loftis, the mayor of the remote island of Widow’s Bay, convinced it’s ripe for a tourist boom. But the island is steeped in unsettling folklore, a thick fog perpetually blankets the coast, and his teenage son isn’t thrilled with his father’s plans – describing the place as ‘like a prison.’ It’s a precarious foundation for a comedy-horror, and one that ‘Widow’s Bay’ expertly exploits.
A killer’s shadow and a murky truth
The series, created by ‘Parks and Recreation’ writer Katie Dippold, leans heavily into the unsettling. ‘Should I Marry a Murderer?’ – starring Caroline Muirhead – is interwoven with the narrative, offering a chilling, intimately detailed account of Muirhead’s relationship with Alexander McKellar, a man who confessed to a brutal killing. The inclusion of extensive mobile phone footage creates a uniquely visceral experience, forcing the viewer to confront the disturbing reality alongside Muirhead’s anguished reflections. It’s a truly uncomfortable watch, and elevates the overall tone of ‘Widow’s Bay’ beyond mere Entertainment.
More than just a tourist trap
But ‘Widow’s Bay’ isn’t simply a gruesome thriller. It’s punctuated with moments of genuinely absurd humor, largely thanks to Rhys’s performance. The show’s creators deliberately cultivate an atmosphere of unease, utilizing a slow-burn approach that builds a palpable sense of dread. The pervasive gloom, coupled with the island’s unsettling legends, suggests a deeper, more sinister force at play – a suggestion that’s both absurd and deeply unsettling.
Beyond the fog: a series to stream now
Alongside ‘Widow’s Bay,’ this week’s streaming picks include ‘Songs in Sign Language,’ a delightful Disney project showcasing American Sign Language interpretations of beloved songs, and ‘Straight to Hell,’ a Japanese drama exploring a woman’s relentless reinvention after a life of poverty and crime. Don’t miss ‘The House of the Spirits’ and ‘Man on Fire’ either. But if you’re craving a genuinely chilling and darkly comedic experience, ‘Widow’s Bay’ is undeniably the show to watch.